Leicestershire has the biggest economy in the East Midlands, according to a new study.

The county takes three of the top 10 places and has a total of 57 businesses placed in the East Midlands Top 200 Report 2017, produced by financial and business advisers Grant Thornton in partnership with the CBI.

The report found the combined turnover of Leicestershire businesses represented in the report make it the biggest economy in the East Midlands.

The 57 Leicester and Leicestershire businesses in the Top 200 have more than doubled their average profits each year since 2014, have a combined average adjusted profit growth rate of 27.6 per cent and have grown employment by 48 per cent, providing more than 66,000 jobs.

Leicestershire business F. Sherwood & Sons is the East Midlands' third fastest-growing business for profits, followed by Morningside Pharmaceuticals in fourth place, and Davidsons/Go Plant in eighth place. Mark Pashley, director at Grant Thornton's East Midlands regional office in Leicester, said: "Leicestershire businesses making the 2017 report have performed well in the last 12 months, and provide a significant number of jobs in the region.

"Manufacturing and transport are already key sectors for the county, and to see the services sector as number one for Leicestershire in this year's report is great news for jobs and growth in this expanding sector."